Planners approve housing on former allotments in Stanmore

A TWO-year battle over the future of a former Winchester allotment site looks to be finally over.

At a recent city planning meeting yesterday, housing association Radian were successful in their application to develop the site in Stanmore.

Council chiefs have given the go-ahead for nine affordable homes off Cromwell Road despite resistance from a handful of residents dating back two years. Two houses, at 110 and 112 Cromwell Road will be demolished to allow access.

Sarah and Robert Collins, of Airlie Lane, Stanmore, have fought plans on the basis of the damage that construction work would do to trees in their garden, which backs on to the site.

In reference to other council-enforced temporary protection orders on trees, Mrs Collins had strong words for the planning chiefs.

She said: “Building a road over the tree route makes a mockery of temporary protection orders. You are applying double standards.”

But after hearing from city tree officers, councillors voted unanimously in favour of pressing ahead, and Radian will now build seven three-bedroom and two two-bedroom houses.

However, Cllr Michael Read expressed some sympathy with Mrs Collins. He said: “I can see where she's coming from with the 'double standards' and I think the landscaping of this is very important. But I'm reasonably happy to go along with this scheme.”

Planning officer John Hearn said: “It's a very clever scheme. But they do not attempt to mimic the properties on Cromwell Road. On this very narrow street you cannot design standard housing and be happy that it would fit in.”